Watching her zip across a pool, you’d never know Dara Torres has arthritis. In this Lifescript exclusive, the 49-year-old swimming champion opens up about surgeries and her secrets to staying in shape...

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Dara Torres captured three silver medals and proved that age is no obstacle to athleticism.

Nor was osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that affects nearly 27 million people in the U.S.

She swam through the pain in her right shoulder, her first sign of the disease. After returning to the U.S., she underwent arthroscopic surgery, a minimally invasive procedure to repair joint damage in that area.

But her shoulder was just the start. Next, she faced potentially career-ending deterioration in her left knee.

To repair that, Torres underwent a more radical procedure to reconstruct the joint, using biotechnological advances to grow new cartilage.

What’s Ki-Hara? It’s a resistance stretching method designed to make you feel balanced, targeting areas of the body that you’re aware need stretching as well as those that you may not notice.

The result is a feeling of being fully stretched and loose.

I discovered Ki-Hara about 10 years ago when I realized I needed more flexibility. It changed the way I move – in and out of the water.

It’s also helped combat some of my knee pain.

Do you follow a special diet?Rather than eat three square meals, I have several small meals throughout the day with a balance of protein, fat and high-fiber carbohydrates.

Do you have any food vices?I battled bulimia years ago and never want to go back to that dark place. If I crave something, I allow myself to enjoy it in moderation.

I try to eat healthy and find a balance, rather than depriving myself of foods I love.

I have a sweet tooth and like to have a small dessert after dinner, like a Fudgsicle or a Skinny Cow ice cream bar

My weakness right now is homemade Rice Krispies Treats made without butter.

I take a pan and spray it with Pam cooking spray, throw in marshmallows and microwave until melted.

Then I add Rice Krispies cereal. They taste just like the ones you buy.

Do you ever have trouble getting motivated to work out?Sure, I’m like everyone else. So I try to set short-term goals to help me stay motivated.

I also really like the way I feel after a workout.

What’s a typical training day like for you?I have breakfast with my daughter, take her to school, then spend two hours in the pool.

I also do about 1 to 1-1/2 hours of strength and resistance-training exercises. Then I have lunch, do some stretching and pick up Tessa from school.

I’m like any other working parent who tries to find a good balance between work and family time.

Do you see swimming as a job?I still love to swim. I also loved running, but haven’t done much of it since I started having knee problems.

Do you have any down time?Not really. I’m always on the go, either training or spending time with my daughter. My only down time is when I’m sleeping.

My “me time” is spent in the water – I feel a real connection with it.

When did you first start swimming?I grew up in Los Angeles and had four older brothers who loved to swim.

I always wanted to do everything they did, so I started swimming at an early age and swimming competitively at age 8.

Do you see Tessa following in your footsteps?She likes swimming, but she’s also very active in soccer, tennis and gymnastics. I try to keep her busy, because I don’t want her to spend a lot of time just sitting at home and watching TV.

She can choose whatever she wants to do when she gets older, and I’ll support her decision.

Symptoms of ArthritisIf you suspect you have osteoarthritis, consult your doctor. Common symptoms include:

Pain in the joint

Most commonly affected joints are those of the knee, hip, hand or spine

Pain usually increased when the joint is used or stressed

Pain is usually decreased by resting the joint

May be described as a dull, achy pain or a sharper, stabbing sensation

Stiffness

Stiffness can make everyday activities difficult, such as leaning down to pick something up, putting on shoes, opening a jar, walking or climbing stairs

Stiffness occuring first thing in the morning is common, usually lasting under 30 minutes after you resume activity

Stiffness after any period of inactivity is common (such as after sitting still for a couple of hours in a movie theater or on an airplane)

Stiffness decreases your range of motion, so that you can't bend or unbend a joint as far as you normally could.

For more information, check out our Arthritis Health Center.

What’s Your Inflammation IQ?The latest scientific research indicates that inflammation is behind more than 80% of the conditions we suffer from – everything from arthritis to heart disease. Mark Hyman, M.D., author of The UltraSimple Diet, agrees that inflammation leads to a host of health problems. Fighting it can get you on track to a healthier, happier life. Take this inflammation quiz and find out how much you may already know.

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